New Mexico Fishing Report for The San Juan River

Capt. Mark Nesbit
March 18, 2003
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

The river flow has not change. Flow is about 320 -330 cfs, water clarity is between 4-5'. Fishing was good for awhile then got tough, but has improved considerably the last few days. The other day I was throwing a woolly bugger to a group of stacked up trout in some slack water, out come a big old brown chasing that olive bugger. Bam! Whacko, hooked up, line ripping reel a singing. It’s a lot of fun watching the attack when those trout are in the mood. Pulsating the tail is the trick, you want to make that tail breathe. The brown was a male 22-23", a great fish. Nymphing has been good. Cream lavare and pupa’s have been working well. Dry fly fishing has not been consistence.

Spring break is here, as well as spring weather. Dress in layers and practice your casting in the wind. Until next time,

Tight Lines, Mark

CATCH & RELEASE

This area has been fishing good .

• UFO’s (cream or brown size 24's)

• Larva cream, gray, brown #24

• Scuds (gray)

• Spectra #24

• Desert storms #24

• Gray RS-2's and Johnny Flashes

• Black bead head Midge emergers#24

• Worms, orange & brown

• Eggs, egg colored

• Wooly bugger’s olive

UPPER FLATS TO TEXAS HOLE

Fishing has been good in the braids and the upper flats water.

• Same flies as above for the AM

• Black midge emergers

• San Juan worms (AM)

• Chocolate beatis patterns like RS-2, Johnny Flashes

• Flashback Pheasant tails

• Gray & Chocolate foam wings

TEXAS HOLE TO LOWER FLATS

Fishing has been good..

• Desert storm #24.

• San Juan worms ( brown or orange)

• Gray or chocolate RS-2

• Midge emergers black or cream

• Red, cream, gray lavra #24

• Gray & Chocolate foam wings

LOWER FLATS TO BAIT WATER

• San Juan worms (brown is best)

• Orange sprectre

• cream & brown UFO’s #24

• Midge emergers

• Flashback Pheasant tails

• Chocolate beatis patterns

• Brassie’s #22

• Red larvae

Tight lines, Mark

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